As the River Park South Community Association gets set to celebrate its first anniversary on the other side of summer, a key organizer is happy the group continues to gain momentum.

According to the group website, the volunteer-driven association was established in the fall of 2017, and consists of a “group of community-minded volunteers who came together to help foster a sense of community and make River Park South an even greater place to live,” and its mission is to “support, promote and enhance meaningful involvement within the community; facilitate communication amongst stakeholders; and encourage beneficial change and development with the neighbourhood.”

Josée-Anne Le Dorze, RPSCA’s current chair, said the association’s creation, in part, was inspired by the existence of other neighbourhood groups in southeast Winnipeg such as the Island Lakes Residents’ Group and the Sage Creek Residents’ Association.

She said the association provides area residents with a collective voice, provides the chance to create community spirit, and promote an inclusive, welcoming neighbourhood.

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As the River Park South Community Association gets set to celebrate its first anniversary on the other side of summer, a key organizer is happy the group continues to gain momentum.

According to the group website, the volunteer-driven association was established in the fall of 2017, and consists of a "group of community-minded volunteers who came together to help foster a sense of community and make River Park South an even greater place to live," and its mission is to "support, promote and enhance meaningful involvement within the community; facilitate communication amongst stakeholders; and encourage beneficial change and development with the neighbourhood."

Josée-Anne Le Dorze, RPSCA’s current chair, said the association’s creation, in part, was inspired by the existence of other neighbourhood groups in southeast Winnipeg such as the Island Lakes Residents’ Group and the Sage Creek Residents’ Association.

She said the association provides area residents with a collective voice, provides the chance to create community spirit, and promote an inclusive, welcoming neighbourhood.

"I think there’s definitely a need for the association, as a lot of residents want to get to know each other, and it’s a way for people to have a meaningful involvement in their neighbourhood, and help create community spirit as the association continues to grow," Le Dorze, 36, said.

The association’s first community event was a successful holiday decorating contest last December, which it hopes to repeat this year, and it also held a spring cleanup event in partnership with Take Pride Winnipeg on May 5, and its second annual community garage sale on June 2.

Le Dorze said the sale saw more than 50 households register, while the cleanup attracted more than 80 participants, and yielded "five full loads of garbage" that was taken to the landfill. The cleanup took place in the area near the perimeter between St. Mary’s Road and St. Anne’s Road, which was identified by Take Pride Winnipeg as needing the most work.

"The van was filled to the brim," said Le Dorze, noting a toilet and a mattress were among some of items found during the cleanup. "It was exciting to see everyone come together for the event. I drive to work right by that corner of land, and it’s great to see how spotless it now is, which is such an accomplishment."

The association’s geographic boundaries are the Seine River to the east, Novavista Drive to the north, St. Mary’s Road to the west, and the Perimeter Highway to the south.

Go online at www.rpscommunity.com to learn more about the association.

Simon FullerCommunity journalist — The Lance

Simon Fuller is the community journalist for The Lance.
Email him at simon.fuller@canstarnews.com
Call him at 204-697-7111

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